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Disabled girl’s death: Mother gets bail after charges upgraded

A mother accused of fabricating the story of a home invasion shortly before her daughter died has had her charges upgraded to first-degree murder.

Cynara Ali, 16, died in hospital in February 2011. Her mother, Cindy Ali, told police the severely mentally and physically disabled girl died after a home invasion by two armed, masked men.

By Peter SmallCourts Bureau

Wed., Oct. 17, 2012

The mother of a 16-year-old disabled girl accused of falsely reporting a home invasion as precipitating her daughter’s death has been granted bail after her charges were upgraded to first-degree murder.

The 41-year-old homemaker’s bail conditions remain the same, basically that she remain in her home unless accompanied by one of her four sureties.

A publication ban has been placed on her bail hearing.

Her lawyer, Keely Duncan, told reporters Ali seems to be holding up, considering the murder charge and has steady family support. “She’s just waiting for her day in court.”

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In February 2011, her daughter Cynara Ali, died in hospital.

Cindy Ali told police the severely mentally and physically disabled girl died after a home invasion by two armed, masked men with Jamaican accents.

She said the men barged in demanding a package, but later realized they probably invaded the wrong townhouse.

Thirteen months later, police charged Ali with manslaughter in Cynara’s death. She was also charged with criminal negligence causing death, failure to provide the necessaries of life, obstruction of justice, public mischief and two counts of fabricating evidence.

Police said the girl’s mother fabricated the home invasion.

Homicide Det.-Sgt. Frank Skubic said Wednesday the manslaughter charge has been replaced by first-degree murder. “What the Crown is alleging is that the death of Cynara Ali was a planned and deliberate act and we’re alleging that act was perpetrated by Cyndi Ali.”

It is up to the Crown to decide whether the other charges will be withdrawn, Skubic said.

Ali initially told police two black men in overcoats, one armed with a knife, forced their way into her Scarborough home on Feb. 19, 2011.

Because of her disability, Cynara was immobile in a reclined seated position on the living room couch, police told reporters at the time.

When Ali next saw her daughter, she told police, Cynara wasn’t breathing. Paramedics revived her, but she was taken off life support in hospital two days later.

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